By Kevin Kim
Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

CAIRO, Egypt – Egypt’s highest civil court ruled on Saturday that 12 Coptic Christians who had converted to Islam could reconvert to Christianity. The decision was a happy ending to a bitter yearlong battle over the Egyptian government’s policy of discrimination against religious converts. Rights groups such as Human Rights Watch and the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR), however, believe the government should take further steps to cement religious freedom in Egypt.

The court overturned an April 2007 lower court decision that forbade the 12 Muslims from returning to Christianity because leaving Islam is considered apostasy in the predominantly Muslim state. Although there is no Egyptian law against converting from Islam to Christianity, conservative sentiment in recent years has led the government to forbid converts to return to Christianity. Interestingly, lower courts have ruled in favor of conversions in the past, but Saturday’s ruling was the first in a high court.

With its decision, the Coptic Christians are going to receive their ID cards – which all adults are required to carry in Egypt – properly identifying them as Christians. However, the court left the group vulnerable to discrimination by mandating their former religion be noted on official documents. Human Rights Watch and the EIPR warned the government that any such public reference could subject converts to social stigma and discrimination.

Also, Saturday’s ruling may not have widespread effect many are hoping for. Judge Mohammed el-Husseini said that the 12 should not be considered apostates since they were born Christian. Many interpret this ruling as the court’s attempt to limit its ruling on those converts who were born Christian and not lifelong Muslims. Therefore, the ruling will not necessarily bring change for other Muslims who wish to convert.

Still, Mamdouh Nakhlah, a lawyer who represented the 12, described the ruling as “victory for human rights and freedom of religion in Egypt.” “This will open the door for many others to return to Christianity,” he said.

Coptic Christians represent up to 10 percent of Egypt’s 76 million population. They are known to convert to bypass the strict rules of their church, which bans divorce or to marry a Muslim woman. Without the official ID cards, they cannot apply for jobs, buy property, open bank accounts or register their children in schools.

For more information, please see:

The New York Times – Egyptian court allows return to Christianity – 11 February 2008

Compass Direct News – Converts win case but may face discrimination – 11 February 2008

Human Rights Watch – “Re-Conversion” decision is a welcome step – 11 February 2008

AFP – Egypt allows converts to revert to Christianity on ID – 9 February 2008

Associated Press – Egypt court upholds Christian conversion – 9 February 2008